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MEEiIfVG `.-.---� �� na��:_ 7/I217�_ _ __ AGENDA SEC7l0�1: i?i�f'i�P.TS fl;lJ �tC�Ji1;��.tV�i1�C��;J5 GINAT{!VG DEPT_/DIV.: PUi',LIC ;lt�Ri:S ITEM NO_ : ITEM DESCRIP710N: �; 1� PO�ICY Ot�E DIS�ASEQ TREE PRdGRA�! DEPT. N�AD APPROVAL. /''�� IvIGR_ REVIEWED/RECOM�AENQS: : `4 ` � ;�-�: .� ihe c�ty is experiencing, along witl� the whole metrapolz�an area, an increase af Dutch Eim disease to alrnost epidemic proportions. To date, tkais year, �he city's tree }nspectors hav� found and mar�ked 2�3 diseased trees, of tiv{iich 64 are an baulevard or park �ands. This -is an inerease�from 183 trees foun� last year, and less ��an 50 of the year �efore. This marked increase of almast doubling eac� year is be�ng experienced by the �reater majority of tne cor�unities in the area. The average tre� is ap�roxiniately 18" i� riiameter and costs abaut �320 to.remove. The ci ty hi res two addi tional surrmer employees eac�► summer to i�el p our cer�i fiecf tree i n- spec�ar meei the req�irements for insp�ctian, as put �orth by the State Depariment of Agri- _.._._culture. Upan finding a disea5ed tree, the inspectors r�ark the tree, talk to the persor� __.--��t�-e ;k��`��.� p��s�-#��, ��3�- s�m�-t-� �epor.t ��he=-��?��g .depa�t a. ,�r� Thzs-. �gaxt: - _---=-�is-=:then- used: i-n: th�. mai ��rtg: of a: certi f�ed �ette�r,�a thz. property awn�r, .i r�for�ning him �� __ _,Y� e:the_ diseas�d;==�r_ee�:;,t��►:: hi;s : prope�ty: , Th�,_l�tier ,cor��a� ns� a_br��f_.d�5cx� ptior�- o�'--Dutch Elrt._ -- I3isease,-cites-tl�e state and 3oca� statutes which apply�for-removal. af �be diseased tr�es --__ - and indicates to �he owner�that if they shou�d have any questions, they are t� ca11 the _ . c�ty staff. _ . Whe� the diseased elm program was initiated; it was ti�e practTCe of the city �o b171 the � praperty awner the contractar!s cos� for removal and disposal af a tree that was -Fo�nd on their pro�er�y. Th.is �°�sults in consid�rab�� expense to property owners, �he ave rag� cost bei ng appraxi mately �i2q per �iree. 7'h� state 1 egi sl ature, havi ng Nrri �ten the ari gi r�al 1 aw, became awarE o�' thi s exper�se that was bei ng, i n atfect, forced upor� the proper�y owr+�r�s and have passed a program whereby� state funds ar� available to heip reduce the cost to �hese -owners .-ihe proyram i s s i mply that they w317 match dol 1 ar for doI 1 ar, a ci ty's car�tri �u- � tion ta the home owner far removal of his diseas�d trees. For�example, on 'ihe $120 "typical" tree, it wauld be possible for the home owner. ta have no c�st at ail, should the ; cz ty pay �b0 tawards r�rrsova1 of the tree and the state then ma�ch the o�ther $60 �r�eeded. The cost of the abave program would be extr�e�ty experrsive for the city ta undertake. Haw- ever, �he city could utilize tize new state funding �echnique to help reduce the impact to the private citizen. It i5, therefore, reconmended that the fol�awi�g procedure h� used in bill�ng for removal vf these di5eased trees. The cost of remavaT would be sp��t b�tween the home owner.and the city and_state, with the home owner assumirrg 5D� nf t�e cos�, the city 25% and the state an eq�a7 25�. T�zs would mean tF�at an the "typical $12Q tr�e", the ho�ne owner wou1 d pay $60, the ci ty �3Q and 'the sta�e $30. The ci ty i s aZ ready expend-i ng at this time, approximate7y $8,900 yearly ($2Q.00 per tree), to provide just the basic in=- sp�ction that is n�eded as per the Minneso�a Statutes. This cost is currerttly absorbed by the city, rather than c�argir�g the home owner. 7his cost wauld be in the fu�ure, passed o� ta the home owner at the iime of �iilling. To avoid extensive cos�s ta �he oarner, a �1D0 maximum would be set for any single inciden�. A typi caI bi 1 i then }vou7 d 1 ook i i ke the fo11 owi ng : Contractor`s cost of removal Less ci ty contri buti on Le�s state contri b�at� on subtotal P]us city inspeciion fee . ;aet total �J.20.OQ -30.Qfl -30,OD �o.00 +20.OQ 80.00